HENDERSON, Ky. (WFIE) – If you need help from Audubon Area Community Services, you may have to wait a few days.

The organization offers a number of services for low-income residents, but one of their biggest services right now is called LIHEAP.

“It gives people a subsidy, based on their income and the number of people in their household, to pay for some of their home energy costs,” said Faith Holley, Audubon Area Community Services Coordinator.

They have offices in seven different counties that are open from 8am to noon every day for people to come in and apply.

“In the afternoon, our clerks spend time putting that information into the system so our clients can get their benefit as soon as possible,” Holley said.

The problem is, people say, as soon as possible is not soon enough.

One woman I spoke with says her 75-year-old mother has appeared several times in Henderson just an hour after opening, but says the door was already closed.

“We can only process so many applications per day,” Holley said.

She says that between having a limited number of clients they can take a day, their transition to a new processing system, and more people needing assistance this time of year, it causes some delays.

“Everyone is committed to serving everyone,” Holley said. “We’re not running out of funds, we have plenty of funds, it’s just going to take some time to get to every customer that needs our services.”

She says if you need help and requests are closed for the day, try to come back the next day.

“If you could just be patient and help us help you, we will reach every customer that needs our assistance,” Holley said.

She says the new system they have in place should help speed up the process going forward once they transition.

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